The Holloways: Band aid
They are the next big thing, but Julia Rebaudo finds The Holloways having to cope with clapped out buses, a broken hand and a frustrating delay
Above: The Holloways
If you suspected that most indie-rock bands spend all their time hanging around too-cool-for-school grungy north London bars, then you’d be right. Nambucca on Holloway Road is one of those bars and where NME-acclaimed band The Holloways got it all together in 2004. “We were going to call ourselves after the bar, but then we thought The Holloways sounded better,” explains front man Alfie Jackson over the phone.
Just back from Germany where the band was supporting The Kooks, Alfie is bemoaning the fact their tour bus broke down somewhere in Hamm and that their drummer Dave Danger is now having to make the nine-hour return trip by train to pick it up. “Yeah, it’s going to cost about a grand to fix,” he grumbles. In the background there’s a bit of ruckus as 29-year-old Alfie is told to shift into another room, “Oh that’s my girlfriend,” he says apologetically. “I was probably breathing the wrong way…”
Staying with his girlfriend Bonnie Beadle (daughter of Jeremy) and her mum in Muswell Hill gives Alfie, originally from Manchester, a bit of space to recuperate from gigging. “It’s good to have some balance and home comforts,” he agrees. “To be honest this summer’s been a bit stressful so far. Our second album is all finished and ready to go, but our label has been having problems and has delayed the release date ‘til the autumn.”
This is undoubtedly frustrating for a band that’s been raring to take things to the next level ever since the success of their debut album,
So, This is Great Britain, released in October 2006. Their first single
Two Left Feet charted at number 33, but
Generator went further and made number 14 last year. The band has also had the full support of music mag NME, which effused last summer that ‘The Holloways can comfortably expect to be the biggest band in the world by the end of the year’. The Holloways have certainly been enjoying themselves, gathering a loyal following of fans with their raucous gigs and stage antics.
On stage, Alfie is accompanied by guitarist Rob Skipper, aforementioned drummer Dave and bass player Bryn Fowler, who sports that very rock n’ roll habit of smashing up guitars on stage. And how exactly did Bryn break his hand at a recent gig in Glasgow? “Actually it wasn’t Bryn’s fault at all,” Alfie protests. “Seriously he wasn’t doing anything, the bouncers just started on him. Must have been because we’re English or something. But I still like Glasgow!” All in a day’s work for a band who supported Babyshambles last year, “Oh yeah, we had to fill in last minute when Pete didn’t show up,” Alfie laughs.
About to head off to Glastonbury at the time of calling, the band have a few more gigs to get through before their autumn album release, including Get Loaded in the Park – the perfect opportunity to remind yourself what all the hype was about…
Get Loaded in the Park offers a good reason to head south. The year the festival has an amazing line-up – Iggy & The Stooges, Supergrass, Kate Nash, The Hives and Plump DJs to name but a few – and you have the chance to win a pair of VIP tickets to the August 24 showcase on Clapham Common – check out the competitions section. For further enquiries, visit www.getloadedinthepark.com and call 0844 847 2467 for tickets.